World AIDS Day is recognized every year on December 1, to bring awareness to the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This day is a time to reflect on the response efforts, while also honoring the lives of those lost to AIDS-related illnesses and showing support for those living with HIV. 

Interest in alternatives to nursing facility care is growing according to North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS). During the first half of 2022, the agency’s Aging and Disability Resource Link was contacted by 6,839 individuals seeking information about in-home and community-based support services. This almost equals the population of Watford City. 

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) Emergency Medical Systems Unit recognizes CHI Mercy Health Valley City as the first Acute Cardiac Ready Hospital in North Dakota.

As National Family Caregiver Month comes to a close, North Dakotans are encouraged to continue to recognize and express gratitude for unpaid family caregivers who make it possible for loved ones who are older or living with a disability or terminal illness to continue living at home.

On Monday, Nov. 21, as part of a national recognition, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) celebrates Public Health Thank You Day.  

Today, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) together with partner organizations, launched Faces of Medicaid, an initiative to raise awareness about the life-changing impacts North Dakota (ND) Medicaid has on people who qualify for the program. 

North Dakota Health and Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) has recognized two organizations for supporting an inclusive workforce by hiring, training and inspiring people with disabilities to excel in the workforce.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) team presented performance and recognition awards to 12 team members at an annual training conference Oct. 26 in Minot.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) is encouraging all North Dakotans to choose to be vaccinated against influenza. Nationwide, and in North Dakota, there has been an increase in influenza in recent weeks. This increase in influenza cases has happened in conjunction with an early increase in other respiratory viruses, especially among children.

North Dakota Health and Human Services offices in Dickinson will be closed today, Nov. 10, in response to winter weather warnings and hazardous travel conditions.

North Dakota Health and Human Services offices in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Fargo, Grafton, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Rolla and Valley City will be closed Thursday, Nov. 10 in response to winter weather warnings and anticipated hazardous travel conditions. Affected offices include five of the agency’s regional human service centers and their satellite and outreach offices, and the agency’s vocational rehabilitation offices co-located at those sites. Details appear below.

Nov. 3, 2022, marks the seventh annual One Health Day, a Global Day of Action that promotes awareness of the relationships among human, animal and ecosystem health. North Dakota’s Department of Agriculture (NDDA), Game and Fish Department (NDGF), Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) encourage the public to recognize the interconnection of people, animals, plants and the environment they share.

Beginning Nov. 1, participating child care providers will notice improvements in the payment portal, called the Self Service Portal. The payment process will also change to align with the process most providers use of billing families in advance for child care. CCAP payments will be made to providers at the beginning of the month for care provided that month and will be based on the attendance schedule of participating children.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Nelson-Griggs District Health Unit are investigating a reported case of active Tuberculosis Disease (TB) in Nelson County.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has received reports of increased numbers of pediatric hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, otherwise known as RSV. Due to the current increased activity, HHS is encouraging broader testing for RSV among young children and older adults who have acute (severe) respiratory illness. 

The North Dakota Early Intervention Program in the state’s Health and Human Services agency has received a third year of funding from the federal Department of Education to continue work strengthening early intervention services for children with developmental delays.

Today, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Division responded to the final report of an audit of the Department of Health conducted by the Office of the State Auditor that covered the biennium ending June 2021.

“The auditor’s office spent over one year completing their inquiry. During this time, they reviewed testing of compliance and financial records, contact tracing, COVID-19 deaths, COVID-19 vaccine storage, handling and distribution, COVID-19 testing and reporting, and COVID-19 dashboards and information systems and had no findings for these areas,” said HHS Public Health Division Executive Director Dirk Wilke.

Governor Doug Burgum has proclaimed October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Month and October 15 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. In North Dakota, approximately 59 pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth each year (after 20 weeks of pregnancy).

Health and human service professionals and service providers are invited to attend the North Dakota Symposium on Adults, Aging and Disabilities, Oct. 26-27, at the Radisson Hotel in Bismarck.   

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended expanded use of the newly-available bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as a single-dose booster for children ages 5 to 11 who previously completed the primary series at least two months prior.

As grocery prices continue to rise in the U.S. due to inflation, North Dakota WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is partnering with the other WIC agencies across the country to remind families of the services it provides during WIC National Enrollment Week from Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14, 2022.

Over 800 behavioral health and child welfare professionals are registered to participate in the North Dakota Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services conference, Oct. 11-13 at the Fargo Holiday Inn or virtually via an online livestream platform.

Parents Lead, a North Dakota program administered by the state’s Health and Human Services agency’s Behavioral Health Division, has created new information to help parents, caregivers, professionals who work with children and other trusted adults understand bullying and how they can help children and youth who may be affected by it.

Gov. Burgum proclaimed the month of October as Influenza Prevention Month and the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is reminding everyone to get vaccinated against influenza (flu) this fall.

Today, North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency’s Behavioral Health Division launched a mental health program directory to better help North Dakotans locate and access mental health services in the state. This is the latest development in the state’s efforts to enhance and streamline access to vital mental health services.

The state’s Health and Human Services agency is reminding North Dakotans who may need help paying their winter heating bills that they can now apply for the state’s home energy assistance program. Applications for the upcoming 2022-2023 heating season can be submitted now through May 31, 2023.

Today, North Dakota’s Health and Human Services (HHS) agency’s Behavioral Health Division announced a third round of grant funding for eligible North Dakota public, private and tribal elementary and secondary schools to enhance their behavioral health services and supports for students with behavioral health needs.

Two key priorities of North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency are behavioral health and strong, stable families. These topics are the cornerstone of an upcoming conference hosted by the agency’s Behavioral Health and Children and Families Services divisions on Oct. 11-13. Individuals can attend either in-person at the Holiday Inn Fargo or virtually by an online livestream. 

Organizations and agencies are gathering in Bismarck early next week to discuss solutions to the state’s growing behavioral health workforce shortage.

North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency is offering more than $2 million in provider development grants to entities that want to develop or expand in-home and community-based (HCBS) services that enable North Dakotans with disabilities to live more independently in the community.

During National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 18-24, 2022, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in partnership with Vision Zero warns parents and caregivers not to transition their children from a belt positioning booster seat to only a seat belt too early. Children who use a belt positioning booster seat in the back seat of the car are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash than children who use only a seat belt.

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) was notified on September 16, 2022, that the raccoon identified in connection with the incident at the Maddock Bar tested negative for rabies.

HHS issued a statement on September 13 regarding the situation, as at that time the whereabouts of the raccoon were still being determined. 

Both the original story and the update are available in this post.

Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed September as Recovery Month in North Dakota.

This month, North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency’s Behavioral Health Division wants to raise awareness about programs and services that can support people in recovery, celebrate North Dakotans and their family members in recovery and recognize the dedicated individuals who provide the prevention, treatment and recovery support services that make recovery possible.   

North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) encourage people who come into contact with live poultry to take precautions to avoid illness. Contact with live poultry or their environments can be a source of germs such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli. There is also a potential for infection with avian Influenza A virus.

Gov. Doug Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford were joined by state legislators today at a press conference in Fargo to announce a framework for legislation to address the availability, affordability and quality of child care services in North Dakota, which continues to be a major barrier to workforce participation.

North Dakota’s Health and Human Services agency’s (HHS) Behavioral Health Division has been awarded a four-year System of Care Expansion and Sustainability Grant by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to enhance mental health outcomes for children and youth, birth through age 21.

North Dakota’s Health and Human Services (HHS) agency is hosting two in-person and two virtual stakeholder meetings Wednesday, Sept. 14 and Wednesday, Sept. 21 to gather public feedback on several recommendations outlined in the recent Renee Schulte Consulting final report.

North Dakota’s Health and Human Services (HHS) agency is inviting older adults, adults with physical disabilities and others to a discussion and listening session on Thursday, Sept. 15, 1-3 p.m. CT, focusing on the state’s progress expanding access to in-home and community-based long-term support services.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has seen a rise in reported West Nile virus (WNV) cases in recent weeks. State health officials are reminding people to continue taking precautions against mosquito bites that can cause WNV infection.

North Dakota’s Health and Human Services (HHS) agency announced that the Youthworks facility in Minot has become certified to provide temporary shelter for children ages 10-17 to help prevent foster care placements. Certification means the facility can receive state funding.

National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 4-10. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Behavioral Health Division wants to remind North Dakotans about available resources that can help someone who might be struggling with a behavioral health concern and to encourage people to have authentic, caring conversations about suicide and mental health.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the recommendation from its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of two newly available bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for use as a single-dose booster in individuals 12 years and older.

Gov. Doug Burgum announced that the integration of North Dakota’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services into one Health and Human Services (HHS) agency is effective today, Sept. 1, 2022.

The agency will be led by HHS Commissioner Chris Jones. State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi will provide vision, leadership and consultation on state health priorities.

“North Dakota’s Department of Health and Department of Human Services have a long history of working together to serve North Dakotans,” Burgum said. “Today the two departments have officially integrated into one agency, and we are deeply grateful for the hard work so many team members have invested in this effort. As a unified health and human services team, HHS has the opportunity to transform the citizen experience and help North Dakota become the healthiest state in the nation.”

Wednesday, Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. The North Dakota Department of Health, North Dakota Highway Patrol and North Dakota Department of Human Services are remembering people lost to drug overdoses and their family members and raising awareness about available prevention resources that can help save North Dakotans’ lives.